'There may be casualties' to plants from extended snow cover, cold

ROCKFORD - If you're worried about how the winter is affecting your lawn and garden, snow and cold may be the least of your troubles.

Animals may do more damage this year than the cold.

"I think we're going to see more deer browsing on arbor vitae and rabbits eating burning bushes, more of that kind of damage than things dying from the cold," said John Carlson, owner of J. Carlson Growers Inc., 8938 Newburg Road. "But as we always say, we'll let you know in May."

This, Carlson knows: Deer have made trails in his yard as they munch on white pine and other bushes.

"They're all hungry," he said. "It's a tough winter for them."

It's been a tough winter for Rockfordians, too. But nowhere near the toughest.

National Weather Service Meteorologist Matt Friedlein said there have been 53 consecutive days with at least 2 inches of snow on the ground, the sixth longest stretch since 1905 and half the record of 107 days from the 1978-79 winter.

The 41.4 inches of snow that's fallen in Rockford so far (26.1 inches is normal to date), makes it the 11th snowiest winter since 1905. In 2007-08, 58 inches had fallen by now.

We've had 30 days of below-zero temperatures this year, which ranks seventh but well below the 41 days recorded in both 1976-77 and 1977-78, Friedlein said.

So as the crocus rests under a snow blanket of 11 inches, there are signs of spring. David Ott is growing pansies. They're an early season garden favorite, and they're sprouting in Rock Valley Garden Center's greenhouse at 785 N. Bell School Road.

In the garden, Ott said that snow blanket is likely to protect most plants through the winter. But there could be casualties.

"Until the spring thaw, you don't really know," he said.

Plants that might be in trouble are those that belong farther south. Candice Miller, horticulture educator with the University of Illinois Extension, said plants like magnolias and peach trees, and trees that flower and bear fruit, may be affected.

"A lot of times it's not going to kill the plant, but the buds get damaged so no fruit is produced," she said.

And evergreen plants planted along sidewalks and boulevards that were salted may seen some foliage burn, she said. Trees planted along boulevards and streets are usually chosen because they tend to be salt- and drought-tolerant, she said.

While people want their plants to survive, they're hoping garden pests die. But despite temperatures, populations of Japanese beetles and emerald ash borers are most likely comfortably surviving beneath the snow.